| Author | Message | ||
| bruce knee (Bruceknee)
Rating: |
Can I use a 12v inverter with a 24v system? I have a Freedom 2012 and a 102a3 w/ a 24v system. What is the best thing to do.... sell the 12v inverter and get a 24v? Or is there a way to use what I have? Anyone have a 24v and need a 12v ? | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
sounds like you need 12 volt house batteries | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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You can, however, you will need a 12v house bank to go with it. That eliminates the use of the engine alternator as a charging source of the house batteries. For doing that, you would also need to install an additional alternator on the engine for the house batts, and many people have done just that, even though they are limited capacity compared to the 24 volt u have. | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
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24v is the way to go of you want the least amount of hassles. Your wiring will be much smaller w/ 24v, and half the ampacity of an identical 12v system (much smaller wires, less arcing dangers). Plus, if desired, you can get a mongo inverter (4,000w +) that's simply unavailable in 12v. Utilizing your big coach alternator seems to make sense, too. With all-24vDC, you'll want to keep 12v DC items to a minimum, and go with a nearly all 110vAC system, otherwise you'll have to invest in an equalizer to tap 12v off your 24v (unless you have one already). Wiring an all 110vAC coach is cheaper than finding 12vDC stuff anyways (compare prices at Home Depot to Camping World sometime). Also, ten times less line amps and voltage drop compared to 12vDC. I'm on the other side of the tracks: I have a 12v bus and almost all 12vDC gear, and no inverter. If I had built it, though, I'd have gone the inverter/ all-AC route for sure. If you decide to do so, selling your 12v inverter should be a cakewalk. My $0.02, BB | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Re: "otherwise you'll have to invest in an equalizer to tap 12v off your 24v " Or..... You can use a converter to go from 24dc to 12dc, or from 110ac to 12dc. It's easier to keep it all the same as the bus alternator and electronics. Convert up to 110 and go from there, or down to 12. | ||
| Jerry Liebler (Jerry_liebler)
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Bruce, By all means dump the 12 volt inverter. Then make your house system 24 volts. You have 7,200 watts of 24 volt DC from the bus alternator. Then make your next inverter a good true sine wave unit, Traces SW4024 or outback. This will enable you to run even 2 roof AC units on the road. I wish I could but I've got a 12 volt bus. Regards Jerry 4107 1120 | ||
| Jim (Jim_in_california)
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There's a bunch of advantages to 24v DC house wiring. One interesting one I came across: if you have an Outback MX60 solar charge controller, and if the output voltage is set to a 12v battery bank, the greatest number of 170watt solar panels you can support is six. If all the parts are the same but the battery bank is 24v and you switch the MX60 accordingly, you can support twelve 170watt panels. Dropping the voltage drives the amps up. Double the voltage, drop the amps and ALL heat-related issues improve beyond just wiring needs getting easier. See also this Outback inverter page for examples of the reduced heat upping your power available at no extra cost: http://thesolar.biz/OutBack%20Inverters.htm | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
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You need an equalizer anyway. A late model bus like yours probably already has one. But a 2000 watt inverter is too big a load for an equalizer to keep up with. I have almost all 24 volt and enjoy it but, except in inverters, 24 volt stuff is ususally more expensive and harder to find. There is one type of equalizer that will up charge to the 24 volt bus batteries from a 12 volt system. It doen't seem to be very common though. But it is a way to have 12 volt alternators. I believe that if possible two alternators should be the same voltage for redudnacy. I have traveled several thousand miles with one alternator out because I had that redundancy with two 24 volt alternators. | ||
| David (Davidinwilmnc)
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Stephen, if I'm not mistaken Vanner equalizers will charge the 24 volt batteries from 12 volts. At least the manual for mine indicates it will. It's a 66-80 (80 amp). I got it on eBay for $149, which seems like a real deal. It's new, in the box, too. I'm hoping this will take care of my 12 volt needs - lights, exhaust fans, and a few other small items. The inverter will be 24 volt. | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
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Really for most of us 80 amps is overkill since the Vanner catches up during times when the 12 volt load is not so heavy. I didn't know Vanner made one that would up charge to the 24 volt system. |
